About | Stuff | Links | Tandem Stories | Weblog | Forum
You are here: Kaedrin > Stuff > Books > More Than Human

More Than Human
by Theodore Sturgeon

Ratings:
Overall: 9
Readability: 8
Intelligence: 9

Review:
More Than Human is known as a classic Sci-fi novel. It is written as a series of three short novelettes, none of which are very impressive on their own. However, when taken together, the three stories combine to become more than the sum of their parts. This structure echoes the novel's main themes. A group of misfits (mostly children) band together for survival; none of them can survive on their own, but together they may comprise the next step in human evolution. Sturgeon approaches his story with a literary style, both poetic and lyrical, exploring the questions of power, responsibility, morality, individuality and belonging. This sort of depth and style is rarely seen in science fiction, and Sturgeon masterfully keeps his book accessable and readable (though a bit strange). Definitely a fascinating look at humanity and its needs.

Links:
Amazon.com: Buy it here!
The Theodore Sturgeon Page: Lots of info on the author.

Quotes:
Page 94 - "We don't believe anything we don't want to believe."
Page 97 - "Logic and truth are very different things, but they often look the same to the mind that's performing the logic."
Page 186 - "He saw himself as an atom and his gestalt as a molecule. He saw these others as a cell among cells, and he saw the whole design of what, with joy, humanity would become."

Further Discussion:
• Do you think its possible for a group of humans to unite, forming a new organism (homo gestalt)?
• What do you think the psychological effect of telekenisis, mind reading, etc... on a person would be?
• This book clearly has an optimistic view of humanity (and its evolution). Do you share in this viewpoint? Why or why not?




Copyright © 1999 - 2005 by Mark Ciocco.
No part of this page may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission.